Preview: Lincoln City v Rovers

Rovers are back on the road on Sunday with a trip to Lincoln City's Sincil Bank, with Tony Mowbray's side looking to boost their preparations ahead of the start of the Championship season.

Here's our guide to the game...

STATE OF PLAY

Following an impressive 2-0 win at Scottish side Hibernian, a 1-1 draw at League Two side Port Vale and a home defeat to Liverpool so far in pre-season, our preparations for the 2018-19 Championship campaign continue to hot up with a trip to Lincoln City on Sunday. Tony Mowbray's men will certainly face a stern test from the League Two outfit, who impressed in their first campaign back in the EFL last season, with a play-off finish in the division. As always, we'll be in attendance, bringing you team news and live updates via social media. Fans can follow the action via our official Twitter account, with kick-off at Sincil Bank scheduled for 3pm.

TEAM NEWS

There are no fresh injury worries for Mowbray to be concerned with, and he could well be boosted by the return of Danny Graham from injury. The powerful frontman missed the game at Port Vale and the Ewood season opener against Liverpool with a slight knock. It's expected that the side will be rotated, which may mean starts for the likes of Craig Conway, Jacob Davenport and Jayson Leutwiler, who all appeared from the bench on Thursday evening. Duo Ben Gladwin (knee) and Paul Caddis (fitness) remain doubts.

OUR OPPONENTS

We will be the third Championship opponents that the Imps have faced in pre-season. The first encounter saw Norwich City earn a 3-1 win against Danny Cowley's side before Sheffield Wednesday visited and took a 1-0 victory back to Yorkshire with them thanks to Fernando Forestieri's second half strike. City were due to play local non-league side Lincoln United last week, but the game was postponed due to the searing heat in the area.

TICKETS AND OTHER BUSINESS

Tickets for the game will be available on the day, via the ticket office at Sincil Bank. Please note pay on the day purchases are CASH ONLY.

For anyone driving to Sincil Bank on Sunday, parking for supporters attending the game is available for £4 on the South Common Car Park, this is on a first come, first served basis.

We have been advised that the University of Lincoln Fanzone will be open for away supporters to come and sample the atmosphere as well as food and drink being available.

The Fanzone will be open from 12pm on Sunday, with the Travis Perkins Suite open also for away supporters before the game.

SHARE YOUR FAN PICS

If you're heading to Lincoln on Sunday, be sure to tag your matchday pictures with #Rovers; we'll share the best posts on our official Twitter and Instagram pages.

Report: Lincoln City 0 Rovers 1

Joe Nuttall's header just a moment before half time was all it took for Rovers to register a 1-0 victory against League Two side Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.

Nuttall connected cleanly with a lovely Craig Conway cross to nod Rovers in front against the Imps, and it turned out for be a pretty comfortable afternoon for Tony Mowbray's side.

Every squad player got game time in the sunshine aside from David Raya, who was the only unused substitute on the day.

It could well have been more for Rovers, with substitute Bradley Dack seeing the impressive Josh Vickers in his way on two occasions in the second half.

But one goal was all it took and it meant Rovers got back on track in pre-season after defeat at home to Liverpool on Thursday night at Ewood Park.

Mowbray rotated his side for the clash against the Imps and was bolstered by Danny Graham's return to the side, with the striker unavailable for the last couple of pre-season friendlies.

Graham started at Sincil Bank having missed the trip to Port Vale and the home clash against Liverpool last week due to a slight injury.

Only Darragh Lenihan and Elliott Bennett kept their places from the starting XI which began the game against Liverpool on Thursday evening.

Scott Wharton also started against a side who he spent the second half of last season with, reaching the League Two play-offs.

The hosts included the experienced central midfielder Lee Frecklington in their team, whilst summer signing John Akinde also started.

In a lively start from the hosts, it was Rovers who went closest in the opening stages with Peter Whittingham crashing a 25-yard strike off the upright after Conway won a free kick nine minutes into the game.

Midway through the half, which contained limited chances for either side, Akinde nodded a left-wing cross wide of Jayson Leutwiler's right-hand post in a rare foray forward from the home side.

Nuttall was starting up top with Graham, and he nearly broke the deadlock with 28 minutes gone, but after great work down the right from Elliott Bennett, the young striker could only loop a header onto the roof of Vickers' net.

More fine wing play from the lively Bennett finished with an inch perfect cross for Graham, but the forward could only head down and over from a few yards out when he really should have opened the scoring.

Just when it looked like both teams would head into the break level, some good work down the left side involving Whittingham and Conway led to the Scot dinking a cross up into the danger area and there was Nuttall to beat Vickers with a pinpoint header, which was enough for Rovers to take the advantage into half time.

A double change saw the impressive Bennett and Lenihan replaced, with the duo being replaced by Lewis Travis and Ryan Nyambe.

Just two minutes into the half and Jacob Davenport almost made it 2-0, but after getting on the end of a Nuttall pass, our newest signing's curling effort took a deflection and whistled past the post.

Bradley Dack was one of seven changes on the hour, and he tested Vickers with a venomous strike from range, but the Lincoln stopper was on hand to produce an excellent stop; tipping the drive around the post and out.

Dack and Vickers continued their personal duel with 15 minutes remaining, but once again it was the Imps custodian who came out on top, tipping over another attempt from our playmaker just a moment after a great block denied substitute Joe Rothwell from adding to our tally.

Rovers certainly improved after the flurry of substitutions, with notable experienced being added on the pitch, and Nuttall's goal was enough to secure victory.

A reminder that Rovers continue their pre-season preparations on Thursday evening when Everton visit Ewood Park for our final home friendly ahead of the big Championship kick-off. Ticket for the game remain on sale and you can purchase yours by clicking here.